Jeffrey T. Parthun, Sr., recently retired after a long and successful career as a school music teacher. He currently co-directs the Concert Orchestra. Jeff holds degrees from Butler University and Northwestern University where he studied arranging/conducting with John P. Paynter, Don Owens, Don Casey, Jackson Wiley and Michael Shasberger. He was a private percussion student of Roy C. Knapp (PAS Hall of Fame), Bob Tilles, Terry Applebaum and Tony Caselli. He has served as a former president of the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) and spent 10 years on the State Board of directors.
He is a long-time supporter of the Purdue Bands and Orchestras. During his 40 years in the Lafayette community, he has been a staff conductor of the Purdue Symphony Orchestra, University Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, taught applied percussion, guest conducted the Purdue Philharmonic and has been a long-time adjudicator/clinician at the Purdue Jazz Festival. He has written for the All-American Marching Band, Symphony and Concert Orchestras and performed with several Purdue ensembles including the Purdue Summer band, Summer Jazz Band and Alumni Jazz Band.
He earned a position as guest conductor with the Lakeview Orchestra of Chicago during the 2023-24 season when the group was voted Best Community Orchestra in Illinois. He is a frequent guest conductor with the Lafayette Citizens Band and honor bands throughout Indiana.
He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and is a multiple recipient of the ASCAPLUS award. His educational music is currently published by Per-Mus Publications, pdfbandmusic.com, BRS Music, Jon Ross Music and Three-Two Music. His compositions have been reviewed in the professional journals Percussive Notes, Instrumentalist and Horn Call and his pieces are on required lists throughout the country.
He is an experienced adjudicator of marching bands, indoor ensembles, organizations, jazz ensembles and show choir bands. He is a member of the Central States Judges Association (CSJA) and received training as an indoor percussion judge through the Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) and participated in the 2014 WGI Percussion Judge Academy in Houston, Texas. In addition to working with the CSJA, he has adjudicated for Tri-State Marching Arts, the IPA, Midwest Percussion Cooperative, ISSMA, Drum Corps Midwest, Central Indiana Track Show Association, Small Drum Corps Association and Music in the Parks. He has judged in eleven states.
He has performed and recorded with many regional jazz and concert groups including the Los Blancos Latin Jazz Band, the Bach Choral Singers and Orchestra, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Kokomo Symphony, Kokomo Park Band is serving as principal percussionist for the Lafayette Citizens Band and the Indiana Wind Symphony. He is 2021 recipient of a Michiana Outstanding Music Educator Award. He can be seen (briefly!) as the band director in the Paramount motion picture “Blue Chips” with Shaquille O’Neil and Nick Nolte.
He and his wife, Kim, have four grown children and four grandchildren.